Amos 3:9
Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppressed in the midst thereof.
Original Language Analysis
הַשְׁמִ֙יעוּ֙
Publish
H8085
הַשְׁמִ֙יעוּ֙
Publish
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
1 of 19
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
2 of 19
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וְעַֽל
H5921
וְעַֽל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
5 of 19
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הֵאָֽסְפוּ֙
Assemble
H622
הֵאָֽסְפוּ֙
Assemble
Strong's:
H622
Word #:
10 of 19
to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e., remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
11 of 19
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הָרֵ֣י
yourselves upon the mountains
H2022
הָרֵ֣י
yourselves upon the mountains
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
12 of 19
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
וּרְא֞וּ
and behold
H7200
וּרְא֞וּ
and behold
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
14 of 19
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
רַבּוֹת֙
the great
H7227
רַבּוֹת֙
the great
Strong's:
H7227
Word #:
16 of 19
abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
בְּתוֹכָ֔הּ
in the midst
H8432
בְּתוֹכָ֔הּ
in the midst
Strong's:
H8432
Word #:
17 of 19
a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center
Cross References
Amos 4:1Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink.Amos 6:1Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!Amos 1:8And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord GOD.Jeremiah 50:2Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.Jeremiah 31:5Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things.Amos 8:6That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat?1 Samuel 5:1And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Eben-ezer unto Ashdod.
Historical Context
Samaria was Israel's capital, built by Omri (1 Kings 16:24) and famous for wealth and wickedness. By 760 BC, the Northern Kingdom's prosperity under Jeroboam II masked systemic injustice—the rich oppressing the poor while maintaining religious ritual. Archaeological excavations reveal luxury goods and elaborate architecture alongside evidence of extreme economic disparity.
Questions for Reflection
- How should it convict us when secular society recognizes injustice that religious people ignore or perpetuate?
- What 'tumults' and 'oppression' might be visible in churches or Christian communities today?
- Why does prosperity often blind religious people to their own sin and social injustice?
Analysis & Commentary
Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt—God summons pagan nations as witnesses against Israel's sin. The Hebrew הַשְׁמִיעוּ (hashmi'u, 'proclaim, announce publicly') demands widespread proclamation. Ashdod (Philistine city) and Egypt (Israel's former oppressor) represent notorious wickedness, yet even they will be shocked by the great tumults (מְהוּמֹת רַבּוֹת, mehumot rabot, 'great confusion/chaos') and the oppressed (עֲשׁוּקִים, ashuqim, 'the oppressed/exploited') within Samaria.
This is devastating irony: Israel, called to be holy and distinct (Exodus 19:6), has become morally inferior to pagans. When God calls the wicked to witness against His people, judgment is certain. Similarly, Jesus said Sodom and Gomorrah would fare better than cities that rejected Him (Matthew 11:23-24).